Systems and methods for providing blackout support in video mosaic environments

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for providing blackout support in video mosaic environments are disclosed. In response to receiving a request for a video mosaic page, screen data, which may include blackout information, is received. The screen data identifies the video assets in the video mosaic page. A determination is made, based at least in part on the screen data, whether any video assets in the video mosaic page should be blacked out. Blacked out assets may be masked and their associated audio blocked. In addition, an overlay of options associated with the blacked out asset may be presented. The overlay may include options to substitute the blacked out asset with replacement content, search for similar content, or retrieve more information about the blackout.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to media systems and, moreparticularly, to blackout features in media systems supporting videomosaics.

A programming blackout occurs when a distribution facility, or otherfacility, does not broadcast programming at the time it was scheduled tobe broadcast. For example, a broadcaster may be prohibited frombroadcasting a sporting event if the broadcaster's signal reaches anyarea within a certain radius of the sports venue where the event isbeing played. During the programming blackout, the distribution facilitymay deliver replacement media (or no media at all) on the blacked outchannel during the blackout period.

Three illustrative types of programming blackouts are bandwidthblackouts, affiliate protection blackouts, and venue protectionblackouts. Bandwidth blackouts may occur when a program has larger thantypical bandwidth requirements. For example, a sports program mayrequire more bandwidth than a non-sports program due to its fast-actionnature. When a sports program is broadcast, bandwidth may be borrowedfrom another channel in order to satisfy the increased bandwidthrequirement of the sports program. Borrowing bandwidth from a channelmay prevent the broadcast of a regularly scheduled program in thatchannel. Thus, a blackout of that regularly scheduled program occurs.

Affiliate protection blackouts may occur when the same program isscheduled to be broadcast on two separate channels, such as a localnetwork affiliate and a national channel. In an attempt to protect theinterests of the local network affiliate, the television serviceprovider may black out the commonly scheduled program on the nationalchannel in the locality of the local network affiliate.

Venue protection blackouts may occur, for example, when the provider ofa live event wants to protect the venue of the live event by preventingthe event from being televised. For example, when a sporting event, orother event, is not sold out, the sports team may prohibit the broadcastof the event in an attempt to increase ticket sales and attendance forthe event and for future events. Thus, a programming blackout may occuron the channel scheduled to broadcast the event.

There have been several solutions proposed for supporting programmingblackouts. For a description of one such system for providing blackoutfeatures in interactive television program guides, see U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/996,346, filed Nov. 28, 2001. Due to theever-increasing number of channels and services available in today'smedia guidance systems, user interfaces continue to evolve. For example,remotely-generated video mosaics may present multiple video sources to auser in a single media guidance application page. Suchremotely-generated mosaics enable users to access multiple servicesand/or assets from video-rich menu screens and displays.

Current blackout systems fail to adequately support video mosaic screensbecause the screens are typically remotely-generated and composited froma number of different video sources. One or more of the video sourcesmay include national feeds that should be blacked out on the userequipment. This may result in video cells in a video mosaic screenpresenting video that should in fact be blacked out.

For example, a user may request a remotely-generated sports genre videomosaic page that contains six live sporting events. Each event may bepresented in its own video cell or window in a remotely-generated videomosaic page. Two of the six sporting events may correspond to nationaltelevision feeds that are blacked out on the user equipment due to oneor more venue protection blackouts (e.g., the user is located withinsome geographic distance from the sporting event venue and the event isnot sold out) and another sporting event may be blacked out due to anaffiliate protection blackout (e.g., the event is also being broadcaston a local network channel). Current blackout systems are not capable ofblacking out individual elements within a remotely-generated videomosaic screen; therefore, events are presented in violation of theblackout. This is highly undesirable, as service operators are typicallyunder contract not to broadcast blacked out content, yet the user stilldesires to have some content presented in place of the blacked outcontent and to be able to view the remainder of the video mosaic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a videomosaic client is implemented on a user's equipment. The video mosaicclient supports the individual control of objects in aremotely-generated video mosaic display.

In response to receiving a request for a video mosaic page, the videomosaic client may receive and parse blackout information in screen dataassociated with the video mosaic page. The screen data may be sentin-band along with one or more video streams or out-of-band. Once thescreen data is parsed, the video mosaic client may analyze the receivedblackout information and determine if any objects in the video mosaicpage are, or should be, blacked out.

If the video mosaic client determines that an object in a video mosaicpage is, or should be, blacked out, the video mosaic client may performone or more of the following actions in connection with the video mosaicpage: mask the location of the blacked out object in the mosaic page,block the object's associated audio, prevent the user from highlightingthe blacked out object, redefine the action data associated with theblacked out object (e.g., the object's on-click action data), providealternate, replacement media content for the blacked out object, or anysuitable combination of these actions.

In some embodiments, blacked out objects in a mosaic screen are maskedwith an overlay that blocks the object from being displayed on themosaic page. The object's associated audio may also be blocked. In otherembodiments, the blacked out cell may be replaced with a graphic, icon,image, text, or a replacement video asset, including targetedadvertising or alternatively a data feed that would provide summaryinformation for the blacked out game (e.g., a sports ticker), score,time left in the game, etc. In some embodiments, the replacement assetmay be substituted by hardware in a cable headend before the mosaic pageis delivered to a requesting client. In other embodiments, thesubstitution may occur locally at the user equipment. The mosaic pagemay then be re-rendered or recreated with the replacement asset.Locally-stored media may also be displayed in lieu of blacked outcontent in a mosaic page.

In response to the user selection of a blacked out object, a user may bepresented with an overlay or menu of blackout options. These options mayinclude replacing the blacked out object with replacement content,searching for content similar to the blacked out content that isaccessible by the user equipment, or purchasing tickets or obtainingmore information about the blacked out content such as the sports tickerreferenced above. Another option that could be presented to the user isto record the blacked out event to the users DVR box and allow playbackafter the blackout conditions have expired.

Blackout information may be provided for each object in a video mosaicpage. The blackout information may include, for example, informationidentifying a blacked out program, such as the program's uniqueidentifier or time and channel information. In some embodiments, theblackout information may also be used to create a set of blackout ruleson the user equipment. For example, the blackout information may containlocality information, such as blackout zip codes, cities, states,geographic coordinates, or any other suitable information from which alocation may be derived. This information may be compared to localityinformation present on the user equipment to determine if the contentshould be blacked out. For example, a local variable could be defined onthe user equipment that identifies the current location of the userequipment. As the user equipment changes location, the local variablemay be automatically updated by the video mosaic client to reflect thechange in location.

In some embodiments, blackout information may include blackout flagstructures associated with one or more objects in a video mosaic page.The blackout flag structures may identify one or more blackout sourceidentifiers (e.g., channel identifiers) associated with a video mosaicobject. If any of the blackout source identifiers are present in thelocal channel map on the user equipment, the video mosaic client mayblackout the object in the video mosaic page. Blackout flag structuresmay be defined for each object in the video mosaic page or only forobjects that are, or should be, currently blacked out on the userequipment.

In some embodiments, the blackout flag structures may also include oneor more blackout multicast addresses (MCAs). The MCAs may be indicativeof the location of the user equipment. For example, the multicastaddresses may correspond to several local cable headends from which theuser equipment receives video streams, screen data, blackoutinformation, interactive application data, or any other suitableinformation. If any MCA specified in the blackout flag matches an MCAassociated with the user equipment, the video mosaic client may blackoutthe object associated with the blackout flag.

In some embodiments, the blackout flag structures may also include oneor more blackout controller identifiers. The controller identifiers mayinclude unique identifiers associated with a multiple system operator(MSO) or the operator's access control system. If any blackoutcontroller identifier matches the controller identifier of the userequipment, the video mosaic client may black out the object associatedwith the blackout flag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the present invention, its nature andvarious advantages will be more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative interactive media system inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative display screen showing a video mosaic page inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative display screen showing a video mosaic homepagewith user navigation buttons in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is an illustrative generic display screen showing a number ofvideo windows, or cells, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 5 is an illustrative display screen showing a blacked out maskedcell and a blacked out cell showing replacement media in accordance withone embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustrative display screen with the blacked out cells ofFIG. 5 removed from the mosaic page in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustrative display screen showing the user selection of ablacked out cell in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is an illustrative display screen showing a blacked out overlaywith options for a blacked out video cell in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an illustrative display screen showing a search resultsoverlay menu in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows an illustrative blackout flag structure in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 shows an illustrative process for presenting a video mosaicscreen to a user in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 12-13 show an illustrative process for parsing blackoutinformation in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows an illustrative process for searching for assets similarto a blacked out cell in a video mosaic screen in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 shows an illustrative process for handling an object blackoutfunction call in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The systems and methods described herein are directed toward providingenhanced blackout functionality in video mosaic screens. Although thedescribed embodiments may refer to Video-Rich Navigation (VRN) screens,displays, pages, and/or environments, the present invention may be usedwith any remotely-generated or locally-generated video mosaic screens.In addition, although the windows or cells of the mosaic pages aredescribed herein as being populated with analog or digital video frombroadcast television channels, the windows or cells of the mosaic pagesmay be populated with any suitable video assets or media content. Thesevideo assets may include live broadcast programs, video on-demand (VOD)assets, pay-per-view (PPV) assets, recorded assets (e.g., from a digitalvideo recorder, or DVR), locally stored assets, advertising, websites,previews, Webcasts, interactive games and applications, or any othersuitable content. The cells may contain full-motion video, audio, stillimages, text, icons, logos, or any combination of these (or any othersuitable) elements.

FIG. 1 shows illustrative media system architecture 100 for providingblackout support in a VRN environment in accordance with one embodimentof the invention. Central facility 10 may include content source 12, VRNscreen data source 14, and distribution equipment 16. Content source 12may include any equipment suitable for producing or generating VRNscreens. The video content from content source 12 may be in analog ordigital form. In other embodiments, content source 12 may be in afacility other than central facility 10, and may also provide contentfor distribution as regular television channels (e.g., broadcastprogramming, VOD content, etc.).

VRN screen data source 14 may be any equipment suitable for generatingVRN screen data. For example, VRN screen data source 14 may be apersonal-computer (PC) based system or a workstation. User interface 18may be any suitable interface, such as a Windows-based or Unix-basedgraphic user interface (GUI), which allows, for example, an operator todefine VRN definitional files and synchronize the VRN screen data of thedefinitional files with content from content source 12. The userinterface may allow an operator to, for example, specify transitionsbetween distinct configuration specifications for selectable items insynchronization with video content. The user interface may also allow anoperator to define control data which controls, inter alia, theappearance, functionality, and interactivity of the screen elements, aswell as the content or asset displayed in a screen element.

The screen data may also include blackout information. The blackoutinformation may be inserted into the screen data by central facility 10(e.g., the blackout information may be generated by VRN screen datasource 14) or distribution facility 20. The blackout information may beentered by an operator, may be generated automatically from anothersystem (such as an access-and-control system), or may be generated inany other suitable manner or combination thereof. The blackoutinformation may include, for example, one or more blackout sourceidentifiers, blackout multicast addresses (MCAs), blackout controlleridentifiers, channel map identifiers, cable plant identifiers, or anyother suitable information. The blackout information may also includelocality information, such as a set of zip codes where the objectassociated with the screen data should not be presented. See FIG. 10,below, for an illustrative blackout flag data structure for use by VRNscreen data source 14. Compiler 20, which may include any suitablecombination of hardware and software, compiles or translates the VRNscreen data of the definitional files into another format, such asbinary, XML, or HTML format. In some embodiments, input from userinterface 18 may be used to directly generate the screen data withoutneed for compiler 20.

Blackout information may also include blackout time definitions. Thesedefinitions may specify, for example, that a particular blackout is ineffect between 3:00 PM EDT and 6:00 PM EDT. As another example, ablackout may be linked to a specific event in a television program guidedatabase, with its activation time equal to the start time of the eventand its deactivation time equal to the end time of the event. In someembodiments, the blackout time definitions may be included with the VRNscreen data. In other embodiments, the blackout time definitions may beused to determine when to include blackout information in the VRN screendata.

Distribution equipment 16 may be any suitable equipment for distributingVRN screens from content source 12 and VRN screen data from VRN screendata source 14 over communications path 19 to distribution facility 20,and further over communication path 28 for distribution to userequipment 30. Central facility 10 may distribute the screens and screendata to multiple distribution facilities 20, but only one has been shownto avoid over-complicating the drawing. In other embodiments, centralfacility 10 may distribute the VRN screens and screen data to users atuser equipment 30 directly. Distribution equipment 16 may distribute theVRN screens and VRN screen data in any suitable analog or digital formatand over any suitable communications path (e.g., satellite orterrestrial broadcast, the Internet, etc.). VRN screen data and blackoutinformation may be distributed in-band or out-of-band from the VRNscreens.

Distribution facility 20 may be any facility (e.g., a cable headend)suitable for receiving the VRN screens and screen data and distributingthe screens and screen data to user equipment 30. There may be multipleusers at multiple instances of user equipment 30, but only one instanceof user equipment has been shown to avoid over-complicating the drawing.Distribution facility 20 may include local insertion equipment 22 andcontent source 24 for allowing a local operator to insert content anddata into the VRN screens or VRN screen data, respectively, and compileVRN screen data into binary format for transmission (if required). Localinsertion equipment 22 may run, for example, a local version of userinterface 18 and compiler 20.

Distribution equipment 26 may distribute the VRN screens and VRN screendata in any suitable analog or digital format and over any suitablecommunications path to user equipment 30 (e.g., broadcast, cable, or theInternet). The communication paths 19, 49, and 28 may include, forexample, a satellite path, a fiber-optic path, a cable path, an Internetpath, or any other suitable wired or wireless path. For example, VRNscreens may be provided as MPEG-2 feeds. Distribution equipment 26 mayprovide the VRN screens (and the VRN screen data) as tunable analog ordigital channels, or as VOD streams (both of which are referred toherein as VRN channels). The VRN channels provide the users of userequipment 30 with a set of interactive features that make up a VRNapplication.

In some embodiments, distribution facility 20 may provide the VRNchannel full-time over a given analog or digital channel. Alternatively,distribution facility 20 may provide VRN channels on-demand or duringspecific time intervals.

Distribution facility 20 may provide one or more VRN applications touser equipment 30. A VRN application may include a set of VRN screens,buttons, and associated functionality. For example, FIG. 4, described inmore detail below, shows a homepage display screen associated with anillustrative VRN application.

User equipment 30 may include any equipment suitable for providing aninteractive media experience and for implementing the VRN applicationsprovided by distribution facility 20. User equipment 30 may includetelevision equipment such as a television, set-top box, recordingdevice, video player, user input device (e.g., remote control, keyboard,mouse, touch pad, touch screen, or voice recognition interface), or anyother device suitable for providing an interactive multimediaexperience. For example, user equipment 30 may include a DCT 2000, 2500,5100, 6208 or 6412 set-top box provided by Motorola, Inc. In someembodiments, user equipment 30 may include computer equipment, such as apersonal computer with a television card (PCTV). In some embodiments,user equipment 30 may include a gaming system, a portable electronicdevice, such as a portable DVD player, a portable gaming device, acellular telephone, a PDA, a music player (e.g., MP3 player), or anyother suitable portable or fixed device.

In the example of FIG. 1, user equipment 30 includes at least controlcircuitry 32, display device 34, recording device 36, user input device38, and video mosaic client 31, which may be implemented as separatedevices or as a single device. Video mosaic client 31 may also beimplemented on user equipment 30 to receive, execute, and support VRNapplications.

Control circuitry 32 is adapted to receive user input from input device38 and execute the instructions of video mosaic client 31 and any otherinteractive applications running on user equipment 30. Control circuitry32 may include one or more tuners (e.g., analog or digital tuners),decoders (e.g., MPEG decoders), processors (e.g., Motorola 68000 familyprocessors), memory (i.e., RAM and hard disks), communications circuitry(e.g., cable modem circuitry), input/output circuitry (e.g., graphicscircuitry), connections to the various devices of user equipment 30, andany other suitable component for providing analog or digital mediaprogramming and interactive media features. In one embodiment, controlcircuitry 32 may be included as part of one of the devices of userequipment 30 such as, for example, part of recording device 36, displaydevice 34, or any other suitable device (e.g., a set-top box,television, video player, etc.).

Display device 34 may include any suitable device such as, for example,a television monitor, an LCD screen, a computer monitor, or a displayincorporated in user equipment 30 (e.g., a cellular telephone display ormusic player display). Display device 34 may also be configured toprovide for the output of audio and/or other sensory output (e.g., aholographic projector or virtual reality simulator).

Recording device 36 may be a personal video recorder (PVR), digitalvideo recorder (DVR), video cassette recorder (VCR), DVD-recorder, orany other suitable recording device. Recording device 36 may include oneor more tuners.

Video mosaic client 31 may be implemented on user equipment 30 as astand alone applications or part of another interactive application,such as an interactive media guidance application (IMGA) or interactiveprogram guide (IPG). One or more of the interactive applications mayreceive interactive application data from application data source 40. Asshown in FIG. 1, the data may be received via distribution facility 20over communication path 49. Alternatively, the data may be received byuser equipment 30 from application data source 40 over a directcommunication path (not shown). Application data source 40 may also bepart of central facility 10 or distribution facility 20. In someembodiments, the interactive application data may include elements thatare referenced in the VRN screen data for inclusion in the VRNapplication such as graphics, logos, advertising, and the like. VRNtemplates, for example, may be provided as part of the interactivetelevision application data.

Homepages (and other VRN screens or pages) delivered to user equipment30 may include a number of interactive elements. Interactive elementsmay be highlighted and selected. If the user navigates to a specificinteractive element (e.g., by using the arrow keys on a remote controldevice), the interactive element may be visually highlighted in somefashion (e.g., a colored border may appear around the element). If theuser selects a highlighted interactive element (e.g., by pressing the“OK” button on a remote control device), the system may display aspecific tunable channel, VOD clip, VOD screen, or another interactiveapplication screen, based on selection behavior specified for theinteractive element in the VRN screen data.

Video mosaic client 31 provides enhanced blackout functionality for VRNscreens and pages. For example, video mosaic client 31 may parsereceived VRN screen data to determine if one or more objects in a VRN orvideo mosaic screen should be blacked out. In some embodiments, theblackout information in the screen data simply specifies the object orobjects in the video mosaic page that should be blacked out on the userequipment. In these embodiments, each user equipment may receivedifferent blackout information, depending on such factors as the userequipment's locality, channel map, or any other suitable information.Video mosaic client 31 may determine the location of the blacked outobject within the video mosaic page and take appropriate action toblackout the object. In other embodiments, the same blackout informationis delivered to all users requesting the same video mosaic page in theform of one or more blackout flag structures. Video mosaic client 31parses the received blackout flag structures to determine if any objectsin the video mosaic page should be blacked out. As described in moredetail with regard to FIG. 10, below, the blackout flag structures mayinclude one or more blackout source identifiers. If any of the blackoutsource identifiers appear in the local source map (e.g., the localchannel map) on user equipment 30, video mosaic client 31 may blackoutthe element associated with the source identifier(s). As describedabove, blacking out a video mosaic screen element or object may includeperforming one or more of the following actions: masking the location ofthe blacked out object in the mosaic page, blocking the object'sassociated audio, preventing the user from highlighting the blacked outobject, redefining the action data associated with the blacked outobject (e.g., the object's on-click action data), providing alternate,replacement media content for the blacked out object, or any suitablecombination of these actions. These actions are described in more detailbelow in regard to FIGS. 11-14.

In some embodiments, blacked out cells are not selectable by the user.For example, video mosaic client 31 may prevent user selection ofblacked out cells by moving the selection cursor to the next cell thatis not blacked out. In other embodiments, users may select blacked outcells. Upon selecting a blacked out cell, video mosaic client 31 maydisplay various blackout options to the user. These options may allow auser to substitute replacement media in a blacked out cell or window,search for accessible media similar to the blacked out media, purchasetickets, obtain more information, or any other suitable action. FIG. 8,described below, shows illustrative blackout options in one embodiment.

Although, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, video mosaic client31 is internal to user equipment 30, video mosaic client 31 may beimplemented externally or partially implemented externally to userequipment 30. For example, video mosaic client 31 may be implemented atcentral facility 10 or distribution facility 20 and may run using aclient-server or distributed architecture where some of the applicationis implemented locally on user equipment 30 in the form of a clientprocess and some of the application is implemented at a remote locationin the form of a server process. Video mosaic client 31 may also beimplemented completely on any suitable server, computer equipment, orset-top box accessible by user equipment 30.

FIG. 2 shows illustrative genre video mosaic display 200 in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention. Display 200 contains four largevideo cells displaying four different news channels or programs infull-motion video. The user may be presented with a different genrevideo mosaic page by selecting the various buttons on the left side ofdisplay screen 200. For example, news genre display 200 may be presentedupon selecting button 202. Similar video mosaic pages may be displayedfor other genres, including sports and kids programming. As shown in theexample of FIG. 2, cell 204 is currently selected. The audio associatedwith cell 204 is currently being played, as indicated by icon 206. Theaudio for the remaining, unselected cell windows may be muted until theuser selects the individual cells.

FIG. 3 shows illustrative VRN homepage 300 in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, homepage 300 isaccessible through a particular digital television channel. A user mayalso be presented with homepage 300 after selecting an appropriatebutton on input device 38 (FIG. 1). For example, a “Home Page” buttonmay provide direct access to homepage 300. In some embodiments, homepage300 may be optionally locked, requiring a valid parental control accesscode input in order to view the page. Homepage 300 may include main cell304, one or more thumbnail cells 302, and option buttons 306. Main cell304 and thumbnail cell 302 may both be VRN cells, capable of displayingfull-motion video. In some embodiments, main cell 304 is approximatelyfour times larger in size than thumbnail cell 302.

Options buttons 306 may include single-selection access to a variety ofcommonly-used features. For example, options buttons 306 may link theuser to the interactive media guidance application, on-demand or digitalvideo recorder (DVR) resources, or permit the user to search foravailable media.

FIG. 4 shows illustrative generic video mosaic display screen 400 inaccordance with the invention. In the example of FIG. 4, screen 400contains eight numbered cells, or windows. Each of these eight cells maybe populated with a different asset or channel. For example, cell 402may include full-motion video from channel 225 Cinemax while cell 403may contain promotional advertising for new VOD movie releases. Each ofthe cells in display 400 may be individually selected using input device38 (FIG. 1). For example, the user may highlight a cell in display 400using the arrow or cursor keys on a remote control. In the example ofFIG. 4, cell 403 is currently highlighted, as shown by the darkenedborder around the cell. One or more cells may be simultaneouslyselected, if desired. For example, upon pressing an “OK” key on inputdevice 38 (FIG. 1), the selected status of a cell may toggle on and off.The user may then select one or more additional cells in the samemanner.

The number, location, size, and shape of the cells in display 400 may bealtered without departing from the spirit of the invention. As describedabove, screen data may be used to define the elements in a video mosaicpage. This data may define more or fewer than eight cells and cells ofdifferent sizes, positions, and shapes than those shown in FIG. 4. Insome embodiments, the properties of the cells in display 400 arecustomizable by the user. For example, video mosaic client 31 (FIG. 1)may support variable-sized cells, and the user may drag a corner of acell using input device 38 (FIG. 1) to increase or decrease the size ofthe cell. Similarly, a user may reshape a cell in one or more dimensionsby dragging a cell boundary other than a corner. The video mosaic clientmay also permit cell positions to be altered in real-time while videoassets are playing. For example, a user may drag one or more cells tonew locations or rearrange the placement of the cells to furthercustomize the page.

VRN display screen 400 may also include one or more of vertical optionbuttons 404 and horizontal option buttons 406. These buttons may linkscreen 400 to other VRN screens, the main IMGA screen, or perform anysuitable functionality. For example, one button may select all thenumbered cells in screen 400, while another button may deselect all thenumbered cells in screen 400.

FIG. 5 shows blacked out video windows in video mosaic page 500 inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. Before displaying eachelement in mosaic page 500, the video mosaic client may parse screendata received by distribution facility 20 (FIG. 1) to determine if anyvideo assets in display 500 should be blacked out. The screen data mayinclude such information as the number of cells in a page, the location(e.g., the x and y coordinates) of each cell, the sizes and shapes ofeach cell, etc. When a user tunes to a broadcast channel or videoservice, such as a PPV or VOD service, the video mosaic client may firstdetermine whether the channel or video stream includes screen data. Thisdetermination may be made automatically, or performed only when thechannel or stream is identified as a remotely-generated mosaic channelor stream. If the channel or video stream does not have associatedscreen data, the video mosaic client may continue to monitor the channelor stream to detect such data if it subsequently becomes available. Oncescreen data becomes available, the data is parsed and the individualscreen elements are identified.

In some embodiments, the screen data includes unique identifyinginformation for each cell in mosaic page 500. The video mosaic clientmay then use this unique identifying information to look up blackoutinformation from a network location or content source (e.g., contentsource 12 or 24, both of FIG. 1). Alternatively, a set of blackout rulesmay be cached locally to the user equipment in a database or othersuitable local storage location. The blackout information looked up fromthe network location, content source, or database may include anysuitable asset information needed to determine if the asset is currentlyblacked out by one or more programming blackouts.

In one embodiment, the blackout information defines blackout flagstructures including one or more source identifiers, one or moremulticast addresses (MCAs), and/or one or more controller identifiers,as described in more detail in FIG. 10, below. From this information,video mosaic client 31 (FIG. 1) may determine whether an element in avideo mosaic screen should be blacked out. In some embodiments, videoassets without blackout information (e.g., without corresponding screendata defining the asset's blackout information) are blacked out bydefault. In order to prevent users from accessing video data withoutparsing or processing the associated screen data, various controlmechanisms may be used. For example, the video mosaic pages may beconverted to one or more hidden channels that are not accessible vianormal user equipment operation. Only a VRN application (or anotherapplication that supports screen data processing) may be permitted toaccess the hidden channels. Alternatively or additionally, the screendata may be interleaved with the video stream so that the screen datamust be decoded with the video data.

When the video mosaic client determines that one or more elements in avideo mosaic page should be blacked out, in some embodiments, the mosaicclient may mask, or gray out, those elements with a graphic, icon, text,or logo. For example, blacked out cell 504 is masked with a gray box anda “Blacked Out” label. The location of the mask may be determined fromthe received screen data. For example, the screen data may define the xand y coordinates of each cell, the cell size, shape, and/or any otherproperty of the cells in display 500.

The screen data may also define control data for each cell. In someembodiments, to determine whether a cell should be blacked out, thevideo mosaic client may compare the received blackout information tolocal variables on the user equipment. For example, the control dataitself may include a set of conditionals that, when interpreted by theuser equipment, cause the video mosaic client to retrieve one or moreuser equipment variables (e.g., the user's zip code or channel line-up)and determine whether a blackout applies to the particular userequipment.

The control data (also referred to herein as action data) may alsodefine actions associated with a user selection of a cell. For example,the control data may instruct the video mosaic client to link the userto a broadcast channel or to order a VOD or PPV asset upon the userselection of a cell. For blacked out cells, the cells associated controldata may be redefined or supplemented by the video mosaic client so thatone or more new actions are defined upon a user selection of a blackedout cell. For example, as shown in display screen 800 (FIG. 8), thecontrol data may instruct the video mosaic client to present a blackoutoption overlay upon the user selection of a blacked out cell. The videomosaic client may also redefine or supplement the control data so that aseries of search overlays and prompts are presented to the user uponselection of an blacked out cell, as shown in FIG. 9. The video mosaicclient may also redefine or supplement the control data so that anyother suitable action occurs upon the user selection of a blacked outcell.

For example, the video mosaic client may override a mosaic templatedefinition by applying a new template to the video mosaic page. The newtemplate definition may globally redefine the action data associatedwith each object in the video mosaic page that is determined to beblacked out on the user equipment. For example, the new template mayoverwrite the existing control data relating to each blacked out objectin the video mosaic page and define a new series of prompts to bedisplayed upon user selection of a blacked out object.

In addition to masking the area of a blacked out cell in display screen500, the video mosaic client may also block the audio associated withany blacked out cell. Blacked out elements in a video mosaic page mayalso be automatically replaced with substitute media. In someembodiments, the media substitution may be performed locally by thevideo mosaic client. In other embodiments, the substitution is performedat a local cable headend or other distribution facility, such asdistribution facility 20 (FIG. 1). If the substitution is performedbefore reaching the user equipment at a headend or distributionfacility, the facility may utilize hardware, such as videoencoding/decoding circuitry, to remove the blacked out video stream andsubstitute the stream with a replacement video stream. The video mosaicpage may then be re-rendered or recreated, if required, and delivered tothe user equipment. New screen data may also be added to the mosaic pageby the distribution facility to reflect the new replacement content.

If the substitution is performed locally by the video mosaic client,locally-stored video, advertising, and graphics may be used as thereplacement media and presented in the mosaic page. Additionally oralternatively, the video mosaic client may substitute any contentcurrently accessible by the user equipment with the blacked out content.For example, broadcast programs, on-demand programs, PPV programs, ormedia recorded to a local storage device (e.g., recording device 36 ofFIG. 1) may be presented in a blacked out cell in lieu of blacked outcontent. For example, cell 502 may be a blacked out cell that containsfull-motion replacement media.

In some embodiments, blacked out elements in a video mosaic page areremoved from the page before presentation of the page to the user. Thevideo mosaic client may then dynamically recreate or re-render themosaic page without the blacked out elements, if desired. As shown inFIG. 6, this may create the appearance that the blacked out elementsnever existed. For example, blacked out cell 3 is removed from mosaicscreen 600 and cells 602 and 604 are now positioned adjacent to oneanother. Blacked out cell 6 is similarly removed from the page. Inaddition to removing the blacked out elements, the video mosaic clientmay recreate the page so that the remaining cells are relocated orrepositioned. For example, the remaining cells may appear centered inmosaic screen 600. In some embodiments, the cell size is alsodynamically adjusted to compensate for the missing cells. For example iffour out of eight cells are blacked out, the four locked cells may beremoved from the display and the size of the remaining four cells may beincreased by approximately 50%. In this way, a user may not be aware ofblacked out elements that were dynamically removed in a mosaic page.

If blacked out cells are completely removed from the page, and the pageis re-rendered with a change in position of the remaining cells, thevideo mosaic client may map incoming screen data and control data to thelocation of the new cells. Because the incoming screen data mayincorrectly reflect the old location of the cells, the video mosaicclient may maintain a table of the original cell locations and the newcell locations. In this way, the mosaic client may associate incomingscreen data with the correct cell in the newly rendered page. If theblacked out cells are removed without a change in location of theremaining cells, the video mosaic client may simply ignore or drop anyscreen data received for the removed cells.

FIG. 7 shows illustrative mosaic page 700 with blacked out cells 702 and704. Blacked out cell 704 may be masked with a gray or black overlaywhile blacked out cell 702 may contain replacement media content. Asdescribed above, in some embodiments, the mosaic client may not permitselection of a blacked out cell. In other embodiments, a user mayhighlight or select a blacked out cell in the same manner as any othermosaic cell. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a user may move a cursorusing input device 38 (FIG. 1) and select cell 704. Upon selecting cell704, one or more overlays of blackout options may be presented to theuser, as described in more detail below.

FIG. 8 shows illustrative mosaic display 800 in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention. Upon selecting a blacked out cell, such ascell 704 (FIG. 7) options overlay 802 may be presented to the user. Theoverlay may identify the blacked out content in title area 801. Titlearea 801 may include the title, channel, and/or broadcast time of theblacked out content. Below title area 801 several options may bepresented to the user. These options may include view replacement mediaoption 804, search for similar media option 806, and obtain additionalinformation option 808.

Upon selecting option 804, the user may be presented with replacementmedia listed in replacement media selection 805. In some embodiments,the user may select replacement media selection 805 to be presented withone or more other options for replacement media. In the case of anaffiliate protection blackout, the replacement media may be the sameevent as broadcast by the locally-authorized network. After the userselects option 804, the replacement media identified by replacementmedia selection 805 may be substituted in the selected blacked out cell.In other embodiments, upon selecting option 804, the user exits themosaic application and is tuned directly to the selected replacementcontent.

If the user wishes to locate other media content similar to the contentin the blacked out cell, the user may select option 806. Upon selectingoption 806 the video mosaic client may access interactive applicationdata, such as interactive media guidance application content listings,and search the data for media similar to the media listed in title area801. Similar content may be found, for example, by initiating a titlesearch of keywords included in the title listed in title area 801. Thevideo mosaic application may also use other media information, such asactor, director, and genre information (also derived from media guidanceapplication data), in order to construct a search string. In someembodiments, this search string may be presented to the user. The usermay then refine the search string by adding or removing search criteria,as desired. To determine the similarity between media, a distance may becalculated between other media content and the blacked out content. Thedistance may represent the similarity between the media. For adescription of systems and methods that determine the similarity betweenmedia content using distances, see U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/324,147, filed Dec. 29, 2005, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety. The results of the similar mediasearch may be presented to the user in one or more display screens oroverlays, such as overlay 902 (FIG. 9).

In some embodiments, to locate other content for a media search, videomosaic client 31 (FIG. 1) may interface with the media guidanceapplication database resident on the user equipment 30 (FIG. 1). Thisdatabase may contain, for example, content listing information,including channel/source information, start and stop times, and detailedprogram information. The database may hold data relating to programs andcontent currently accessible by the user equipment as well as programsand content that will be accessible in the near future (e.g., within thenext 5 days). The video mosaic client may interface with this databasethrough a series of API function calls. The function calls may supportdatabase searches, database additions, and database deletions. The APIfunction calls may also return program and content information to thevideo mosaic client for display in an overlay or object in a videomosaic page. In some embodiments, the list of similar media content maybe transmitted as part of the VRN screen data.

The user may also request more information about the blacked out mediacontent by selecting option 808 in overlay 802. This option may link theuser to one or more display screens or overlays containing a detaileddescription of the blacked out content, the length and reason for theblackout, and any other suitable information. In the example of FIG. 8,option 808 provides the user an opportunity to purchase tickets to ablacked out sporting event listed in title area 801 or other futureevents related to the blacked out event. In the example of FIG. 8, theblacked out event may be a live baseball game, such as the Boston RedSox at the New York Yankees. Upon selecting option 808 to purchasetickets, tickets to future Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees games maybe purchased. For example, the user may be linked directly to a ticketdistribution website for purchasing tickets. Additionally oralternatively, the user may be directed to an online auction website forplacing a bid on tickets. The control data may include the URL of thewebsite or websites. The URL contained in the control data mayadditionally include filter criteria to narrow the user's search fortickets and facilitate navigation. For example, the URL may include“www.tickets.com/sports/baseball/,” which may bring the user to a ticketdistribution website, defaulting at the baseball ticket page. Ticketsfor other events and performances may also be purchased via option 808.

As described above, upon selecting search option 806, the video mosaicclient may link to interactive application data, such as media listingsinformation, to search for media similar to the blacked out media, orthe video mosaic client may access a predefined set of similar mediacontent in the VRN screen data. As shown in FIG. 9, the search resultsmay be presented in overlay 902 of display 900. The media content listedin search results overlay 902 may include any type of media contentaccessible by the user equipment, including, for example, recordedcontent, PPV programs, VOD program, digital music, Internet websites,and interactive applications (such as interactive games).

In some embodiments, the content listed in overlay 902 is currentlyaccessible by the user equipment (e.g., currently being broadcast). Inother embodiments, media content that will soon be accessible may alsobe listed in overlay 902. For example, broadcast content that will bebroadcast within the next 15 minutes may be included in the overlay. Inaddition, the search results listed in overlay 902 may exclude anyblacked out content or content otherwise locked and/or inaccessible bythe user equipment or the current user logged on to the user equipment.For example user-based parental controls may be defined on the userequipment. Content exceeding one or more parental control locks for theuser may be excluded from the search results even though the content maymatch the search string or search criteria. In this way, the user can beassured that any media content listed in search results overlay 902 isactually accessible and viewable by the current user.

The content listed in overlay 902 may include broadcast content, such asshown in listing 904. Internet websites may also be searched and listedin overlay 902, as shown in listing 906. Websites, like other content,may be searched by genre, title, or any other suitable characteristics.In the example of FIG. 9, the user searched for similar media relatingto a blacked out baseball game, so ESPN.com's MLB Insider webpage maymatch a sports (or baseball) genre category. Overlay 902 may alsoinclude content available on a local recording device, such as recordingdevice 36 (FIG. 1). For example, listing 910 lists a prerecordedbaseball game.

Some or all of the listings in overlay 902 may be associated with sourceidentifiers, such as identifiers 908 and 912. These source identifiersmay indicate the channel or source of the content listed in overlay 902.Some example source identifiers may include “VOD” for video on-demandassets, “PPV” for pay-per-view assets, “NET” for assets available on theInternet (or a private network), “DVR” for recorded assets, “APP” forinteractive applications, “GAME” for interactive games, and “MUSIC” fordigital music accessible from the user's music library.

In response to selecting a listing in overlay 902, the user may be tuneddirectly to the selected content. If the content is not currentlyaccessible, the user may be tuned to the appropriate channel where thecontent will shortly become available. Additionally or alternatively,the selected blacked out cell in the video mosaic page may be replacedwith the selected content. The cell may then present the selectedcontent in full-motion video. Upon substituting replacement media in theblacked out cell, the video mosaic client may also redefine action dataassociated with the cell so that the cell now behaves like any othernon-blacked out cell. In some embodiments, the user's selection ofreplacement media may be remembered (e.g., saved to memory) for theduration of the blacked out event, even if the user tunes away from andthen back to the video mosaic page.

The video mosaic client may parse screen data in order to identify theelements in a video mosaic page. Each “chunk” of screen data may beassociated with a specific video asset in a video mosaic page or withany other set or subset of the screen data. For a further description ofthe screen data chunks and an illustrative object definition, see U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/395,380, filed Mar. 30, 2006, which ishereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. FIG. 10 showsillustrative blackout flag structure 1000 in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention. The screen data object definition mayinclude 16-bit flag value 1002, which determines if a blackout flagstructure (“BO”) is included in the object. Flag value 1002 may alsoindicate which blackout structures are included. If flag value 1002indicates that BO is set, one or more blackout flag structures may beincluded in the object definition.

In general, the video mosaic client needs only some identification ofthe source of the objects being presented in a video mosaic page and aset of blackout rules to effectively blackout mosaic objects. However,because blackouts are often time-based, maintaining a complete set ofblackout rules on the user equipment may require frequent updates and alarge amount of bandwidth. Therefore, in some embodiments, a blackoutflag structure is used that approximates the blackout rules. Forexample, blackout rules for National Football League games may requirethat any broadcaster that has a signal that reaches within a 75-mileradius of an NFL stadium blackout all games at the stadium that are notsold out 72 hours or more before the start of the game. Other, morecomplex blackout rules may also apply. By using the blackout flagstructure described below, the video mosaic client can estimate thesecomplex rules and enforce the programming blackout.

In the example of FIG. 10, the blackout flag structure includes at least16-bit blackout size value 1004, 16-bit blackout source identifier count1006, 16-bit blackout multicast address (MCA) count 1008, and 16-bitblackout controller identifier count 1010. The three count values mayrepresent the number of blackout source identifiers, blackout multicastaddresses, and blackout controller identifiers defined in the blackoutflag structure. Immediately following controller identifier count 1010,the blackout flag structure may include the number of blackout sourceidentifiers specified in blackout source identifier count 1006, thenumber of blackout multicast addresses specified in blackout MCA count1008, and the number of blackout controller identifiers specified inblackout controller identifier count 1010. Each blackout sourceidentifier, blackout MCA, and blackout controller identifier may be a16-bit value. Blackout size value 1004 may specify the total size orlength of the blackout flag structure.

By providing a list of blackout source identifiers, blackout multicastaddresses, and blackout controller identifiers in the screen data, thevideo mosaic client may determine if any cells or other elements in avideo mosaic screen are blacked out using three separate criteria. Otherdata may also be included in the blackout flag structure to increase thenumber of blackout criteria, if desired. For example, localityinformation (e.g., zip codes and/or geographic coordinates) may bespecifically provided in the blackout flag structure. If the userequipment has a local zip code or geographic coordinates variable set,this information may be used to determine if the object in the mosaicpage should be blacked out. For example, a global positioning system(GPS) or similar system may automatically update latitude and longitudecoordinate variables stored in the user equipment. In these embodiments,a GPS receiver (not shown) may be integrated with user equipment 30(FIG. 1). If the user equipment location is within the coordinatesspecified by the blackout screen data, the video mosaic client mayblackout the object associated with the screen data.

Because the control data stream may be time-synchronized (e.g., areal-time data stream), the video mosaic client may the parse blackoutflag structures as new flags are received. Alternatively, the videomosaic client may parse the blackout flag structures at regularintervals (e.g., every 1 minute). If the blackout information in thecontrol data indicates that the object associated with the blackout flagshould be blacked out, the video mosaic client may take any of theactions described above to black out the object. If at some point theblackout data in the control data stream changes to indicate the objectis no longer blacked out, the video mosaic client can reverse the stepstaken to restore the original object. In some embodiments, the blackoutflag structures may include the time parameters (e.g., the activationtime and the deactivation time) of the blackout. In some embodiments,the time parameters may be omitted under the assumption that theblackout flag structures will be changed at the start and end of theblackout.

The blackout source identifiers included in the blackout flag mayindicate one or more blackout channels or sources. For example, thesource identifiers corresponding to the channels ESPN and the YESnetwork may be listed as source identifiers in the blackout flag. If atleast one of the source identifiers matches any source identifier in thelocal channel map on the user equipment, the video mosaic client mayblackout this object. For example, affiliate protection blackouts mayrequire that one or more local broadcasters have the sole right tobroadcast a sporting event. In this example, the source identifiers forthe local broadcasters may be specified as blackout source identifiersin the blackout flag structure. Then, if the sporting event is alsobeing presented in a video mosaic page (such as a sports genre mosaicpage) as part of a national feed, the video mosaic client may blackoutthis object.

The blackout multicast addresses included in the blackout flag mayindicate one or more network multicast addresses (e.g., IP multicastaddresses). If the user equipment is joined to any multicast addressesin the blackout multicast list (or configured to send or receive data ata multicast address in the blackout multicast list), the objectassociated with the blackout flag structure may be blacked out. Forexample, one or more multicast address may be associated with a cableheadend or network access point. The user equipment may be configured toreceive video streams, VRN pages, or screen data at the specifiedmulticast address. In some embodiments, the multicast addresses on theuser equipment may be indicative of the user equipment's location. Forexample, upon powering up user equipment 30 (FIG. 1), the user equipmentmay automatically listen for incoming video and data at one or moremulticast address associated with a local cable headend or distributionfacility, such as distribution facility 20 (FIG. 1). If any of theblackout multicast addresses listed in the blackout flag structurematches a multicast address on the user equipment, the video mosaicclient may blackout the object associated with the blackout flagstructure.

The blackout controller identifiers included in the blackout flag mayindicate one or more unique blackout controller identifiers. Forexample, user equipment 30 (FIG. 1) may be controlled by a particularcontroller or group of controllers. Each controller may be assigned aunique identifier. Each controller may control one or more groups ofuser equipment, each group defined by a specific channel map, a specificcable plant, or other criteria. If at least one blackout controlleridentifier is specified in the blackout flag structure, the blackout mayapply to all user equipment being controlled by the specified blackoutcontroller identifier. The blackout flag structure may optionallyinclude a number of channel maps, cable plants, or other subset criteriaassociated with the blackout controller identifier. If no channel maps,cable plants, or other subset criteria are specified, then the blackoutmay apply to all user equipment with the specified blackout controlleridentifier. If at least one channel map, cable plant, or other subsetcriteria is specified, the blackout may apply only to the specifiedsubset within the controller.

Any other suitable information may be included in the blackout flagstructures in other embodiments. For example, the blackout flagstructures may include any of the following information: whether theobject can be highlighted if its associated content is blacked out;whether to block the object's associated audio; whether the object canbe selected if blacked out; whether to automatically provide replacementmedia; what to display if the object is blacked out (e.g., solidoverlay, icon, text, graphic, video); reference to replacement media;one or more lists of similar media content; search criteria for similarmedia content; whether to automatically display a list of replacementoptions to user; substitute actions to perform if the object is selectedwhile blacked out; or any other suitable information for determining ifthe object is to be blacked out and its behavior when displayed,highlighted, or selected if the object is blacked out.

FIG. 11 shows illustrative process 1100 for presenting a video mosaicpage. At step 1102, a request is received for a video mosaic page. Forexample, the user may press a “Home Page” button on input device 38(FIG. 1) to be presented with mosaic homepage 400 (FIG. 4). At step1104, screen data may be received and parsed. The screen data may bereceived in-band with the related video assets or out-of-band. At step1106 video mosaic client 31 (FIG. 1) determines if the screen datadefines blackout information. For example, a blackout flag may be set inthe object “chunks,” as described above. If blackout information is notdefined, the video mosaic page may be presented to the user at step1114. For example display 300 (FIG. 3) may be presented without anymosaic cells blacked out. Alternatively, if the screen data does notdefine blackout information, the screen data may simply define thechannel or source of the mosaic elements. Video mosaic client 31(FIG. 1) may then access a set of blackout rules maintained locally onuser equipment 30 (FIG. 1).

If blackout information is defined at step 1106, the information may beparsed at step 1108. For example, blackout flags in the form of flagstructure 1000 (FIG. 10) may be parsed and analyzed. If the video mosaicclient determines that any objects in the video mosaic screen should beblacked out at step 1110, those objects may be blacked out at step 1112.For example, illustrative process 1500 (FIG. 15) may be invoked toblackout the object. The object may be masked, like cell 504 (FIG. 5).To determine if the blackout applies, video mosaic client 31 (FIG. 1)may compare the received blackout information to any informationavailable on user equipment 30 (FIG. 1). For example, network addresses(e.g., the user equipment's network address or joined multicastaddresses), local variables, controller identifiers, and local channelmaps may be accessed and compared to the received blackout information.

The object's control data may also be redefined at step 1112 so that oneor more new actions are associated with the blacked out object. Forexample, the object's control data may be redefined so that optionsoverlay 802 (FIG. 8) is displayed after a user selects the blacked outobject. The control data for the page may also be altered. For example,the user may not be allowed to select a blacked out object in a mosaicpage in some embodiments. As described above, the video mosaic clientmay apply a new template to the mosaic page in order to overwriteexisting control data with new control data for each blacked out objectin the video mosaic page. The mosaic page with the blacked out calls isthen presented to the user at step 1114.

In practice, one or more steps shown in process 1100 may be combinedwith other steps, performed in any suitable order, performed in parallel(e.g., simultaneously or substantially simultaneously) or removed.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show illustrative process 1200 for parsing blackoutflags in screen data associated with a video mosaic page. At step 1202,video mosaic client 31 (FIG. 1) may identify and parse a blackout flagstructure. For example, if flags field 1002 of blackout flag structure1000 (FIG. 10) has the “BO” flag set, the video mosaic client may parsea blackout flag structure containing one or more blackout sourceidentifiers, one or more blackout MCAs, and/or one or more blackoutcontroller identifiers. At step 1204, the video mosaic client determinesif the blackout source identifier count is nonzero. For example, thevalue in field blackout source identifier count 1006 (FIG. 10) may beread at step 1204. If the field is nonzero, the blackout sourceidentifiers are read and compared to the local channel map on the userequipment at 1206. At step 1208, the video mosaic client determines ifat least one blackout source identifier read at step 1206 is present inthe local channel map. If so, the object associated with the blackoutflag may be blacked out at step 1210. For example, illustrative process1500 (FIG. 15) may be invoked to blackout the object. The object'slocation on the mosaic screen may be masked, as shown in cell 504 (FIG.5). The object's associated audio may also be blocked. In addition,control data associated with the object may be redefined. For example, auser may be restricted from highlighting or selecting a blacked outobject. Alternatively, a user may select a blacked out object, but theaction associated with the user selection may be redefined. For example,the user may be presented with blacked out options overlay 802 (FIG. 8)upon selecting a blacked out cell.

After the object associated with the blackout flag is blacked out atstep 1210 or the mosaic client determines that either the blackoutsource identifier count is zero (step 1204) or the blackout sourceidentifier is not present in the local channel map (step 1208), thevideo mosaic client may next determine if the blackout MCA count isnonzero at step 1212. In some embodiments, after determining that theobject is to be blacked out for any reason (e.g., a source identifier inthe blackout flag structure matches a source identifier in the localchannel map), the mosaic client may stop looking at other blackoutcriteria. To determine if the blackout MCA count is nonzero, the valueof blackout MCA count 1008 (FIG. 10) may be read. If the value isnonzero, the blackout MCA values may be read and compared to userequipment MCAs at step 1214. At step 1216, the video mosaic client maydetermine if any of the read blackout MCAs match a user equipment MCA.As described above, the user equipment may be associated with severalMCAs. For example, the user equipment may be joined to an MCA for alocal cable headend. If, at step 1216, one or more blackout MCAs arepresent on the user equipment, the object associated with the blackoutflag may be blacked out at step 1218. For example, the object's locationon the mosaic screen may be masked, as shown in cell 504 (FIG. 5). Theobject's associated audio may also be blocked. In addition, control dataassociated with the object may be redefined. For example, a user may berestricted from highlighting or selecting a blacked out object.Alternatively, a user may select a blacked out object, but the actionassociated with the user selection may be redefined. For example, theuser may be presented with blacked out options overlay 802 (FIG. 8) uponselecting a blacked out cell.

After the object associated with the blackout flag is blacked out atstep 1218 or the mosaic client determines that either the blackout MCAcount is zero (step 1212) or the blackout MCA does not match a userequipment MCA (step 1216), illustrative process 1200 may continue inFIG. 13. At step 1302, the mosaic client next may determine if theblackout controller identifier count is nonzero at step 1302. Forexample, controller identifier count 1010 (FIG. 10) may be read. If thecount is nonzero, one or more blackout controller identifiers may beread at step 1304 and compared to the user equipment controlleridentifier(s). At step 1306, the mosaic client may determine if one ormore of the blackout controller identifiers read at step 1304 matches auser equipment controller identifier. The controller identifier mayuniquely identify the controller within the cable operator's accesscontrol system that controls the user equipment. In some embodiments, asingle user equipment may be controlled by more than one controller. Forexample, a primary controller and a backup controller may both controlthe user equipment. In these embodiments, if any one of the blackoutcontroller identifiers matches any controller identifier on the userequipment, the mosaic client may blackout the object associated with theblackout flag at step 1308. In some embodiments, one or more subsets ofuser equipment associated with a controller may be specified, forexample, with a list of channel map identifiers or cable plantidentifiers. If present, the mosaic client may compare these values tothe values associated with the local user equipment and blackout theobject only if indicated by one of the identifiers. To blackout theobject, the object's location on the mosaic screen may be masked, forexample, as shown in cell 504 (FIG. 5). The object's associated audiomay also be blocked. In addition, control data associated with theobject may be redefined. For example, a user may be restricted fromhighlighting or selecting a blacked out object. Alternatively, a usermay select a blacked out object, but the action associated with the userselection may be redefined. For example, the user may be presented withblacked out options overlay 802 (FIG. 8) upon selecting a blacked outcell.

After the object associated with the blackout flag is blacked out atstep 1308 or the mosaic client determines that either the blackoutcontroller identifier count is zero (step 1302) or the blackoutcontroller identifier does not match a user equipment controlleridentifier (step 1306), the video mosaic page may be presented at step1310. For example, mosaic display 300 (FIG. 3) may be presented to theuser with one or more of the video mosaic cells blacked out.

In practice, one or more steps shown in process 1300 may be combinedwith other steps, performed in any suitable order, performed in parallel(e.g., simultaneously or substantially simultaneously) or removed.

FIG. 14 shows illustrative process 1400 for presenting blackout optionsto a user in response to the selection of a blacked out cell in a videomosaic page. At step 1402 a user selection of a blacked out object in avideo mosaic page may be received. For example a user may use cursorkeys on user input device 38 (FIG. 1) to highlight and select a blackedout cell, like cell 704 (FIG. 7). Upon selecting the cell, an optionsoverlay may be presented to the user at step 1404. For example, blackoutoptions overlay 802 (FIG. 8) may be displayed. The overlay may alsoinclude an indication of the blacked out object, such as the title,channel number, or any other identification information. From theoverlay, the user may select to perform any suitable task relating tothe blacked out object. For example, options overlay 802 (FIG. 8)provides the user with an opportunity to search for other assets similarto the blacked out asset, tune to replacement content, or receive moreinformation about the blacked out object. If the user selects to searchfor assets similar to the blacked out asset at step 1406, interactiveapplication data may be searched at step 1408. The interactiveapplication data may include interactive media guidance applicationdata, such as program listings and other program information.

The mosaic client may search for similar assets based on any suitablesearch criteria. For example, a search string may be automaticallycreated containing the genre and title of the blacked out object. Othercontent in the same genre and similar to the blacked out title may belocated, for example. At step 1410 the mosaic client may determine ifthe located content is currently accessible by the user equipment (orwill become accessible within some user-specified period of time). Forexample, the content may be locked by parental controls or may itself beblacked out. The mosaic client may continue searching until apredetermined number of accessible similar assets are located or untilthe expiration of some search timeout value (e.g., 5 seconds). If anylocated content is accessible by the user equipment, a search resultslist is populated and presented to the user at step 1412 containing thelocated content. For example, search results overlay 902 (FIG. 9) may bepresented to the user.

Upon selecting a search result at step 1412 or choosing not to searchfor similar assets, the video mosaic client may present replacementcontent in the blacked out cell at step 1414. For example, the contentselected by the user at step 1412 may be presented in the blacked outcell. Alternatively, the mosaic client may automatically substitute thecontent in the blacked out cell with replacement content, as shown incell 702 of FIG. 7. For example, locally stored graphics, advertising,or video may be displayed in the blacked out cell in lieu of the blackedout content. As described above, the replacement content may besubstituted locally by the mosaic client or by hardware at the cableheadend or distribution facility (e.g., distribution facility 20 of FIG.1).

In practice, one or more steps shown in process 1400 may be combinedwith other steps, performed in any suitable order, performed in parallel(e.g., simultaneously or substantially simultaneously) or removed.

FIG. 15 shows illustrative process 1500 for blacking out an object in avideo mosaic page. As described above, the video mosaic client mayperform one or more of the following actions in connection with thevideo mosaic page: mask the location of the blacked out object in themosaic page, block the object's associated audio, prevent the user fromhighlighting the blacked out object, redefine the action data associatedwith the blacked out object (e.g., the object's on-click action data),provide alternate, replacement media content for the blacked out object,or any suitable combination of these actions.

At step 1502, a blackout function call may be received. For example, anapplication or process external to the video mosaic client may generatea blackout request. At step 1504, the video mosaic client may determinethe location of the object reference in the blackout request. Forexample, the object's x and y coordinates, size, and/or shape in themosaic page may be read from screen data. At step 1506, the mosaicclient determines if the object to be blacked out should be hidden orreplaced. If the object is to be hidden, the mosaic client may hide theobject with an overlay or other suitable cover at step 1508. Forexample, cell 504 (FIG. 5) shows an object hidden with an overlaycontaining a selectable icon and text.

Alternatively, the object may be removed from the page and optionallyreplaced with substitute content instead of using a cover or overlay. Atstep 1510 replacement content is located. For example, the video mosaicclient may call one or more API function calls to interface with a mediaguidance application database to locate content similar to the contentin the blacked out object. After locating suitable content at step 1510,the video mosaic client may replace the blacked out object with thesubstitute content at step 1514. The object's x and y coordinates, size,and/or shape in the mosaic page may be read from screen data and thenewly located content may be presented at the location of the blackedout content.

After hiding a blacked out object with a cover or overlay at step 1508,the mosaic client determines if the object's associated audio shouldalso be blocked at step 1512. For example, an MSO may be permitted toprovide audio for a blacked out object (but not its video). If the audioshould be blocked, at step 1516 the video mosaic client may also mutethe object's associated audio. If the mosaic client determines that theaudio should not be blocked at step 1512 (or if there is no associatedaudio) or after muting the audio at step 1516, the video mosaic clientdetermines if replacement actions should be defines for the object atstep 1518. For example, in some embodiments, blacked out objects may notbe selected like other objects in the mosaic page. Rather, the cursormay skip blacked out objects, preventing them from being highlighted. Ifa blacked out object (or the replacement content) may be selected by theuser, one or more additional actions may be defined or redefined inresponse to the user selection of the blacked out cell. The video mosaicclient may redefine the control data associated with the blacked outobject at step 1520. For example, the object's control data may bemodified to present blacked out options overlay 802 in response to theuser selection of a blacked out object. At step 1522, the blacked outprocess is complete and the object is presented to the user.

In practice, one or more steps shown in process 1500 may be combinedwith other steps, performed in any suitable order, performed in parallel(e.g., simultaneously or substantially simultaneously) or removed.

The above described embodiments of the present invention are presentedfor purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the presentinvention is limited only by the claims which follow. For example,although this invention is described in conjunction with aremotely-composited mosaic of video cells, the advantages of thisinvention can be applied equally to other types of content on acomposited screen, such as menu items, logos, text fields, and the like.This invention may also be applied to locally-composited screens orportions of screens.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing enhanced blackout supportin a video mosaic screen presented on user equipment, the methodcomprising: receiving a user request for the video mosaic screencomprising a plurality of video assets; receiving screen data whichdefines blackout information for at least one of the plurality of videoassets; determining, based at least in part on the blackout information,whether any of the plurality of video assets are blacked out on the userequipment; generating for display the video mosaic screen, wherein thegenerating comprises masking video assets, of the plurality of videoassets, that are blacked out with one or more of icons, text, non-blankvideos, and advertisements; receiving, from the video mosaic screen, auser selection of a masked first video asset of the masked video assets;generating for display an options overlay for the selected masked firstvideo asset in response to the user selection, wherein the overlay isdisplayed simultaneously with at least a second video asset in the videomosaic screen; in response to a user selection of a first option in theoptions overlay, generating for display information relating to theselected masked first video asset; and in response to a user selectionof a second option in the options overlay, substituting video of thealternative content in the video mosaic screen for the selected maskedfirst video asset.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein generating fordisplay the video mosaic screen further comprises generating for displayvideo assets that are not blacked out in the video mosaic screen.
 3. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the blackout information comprises at leastone of a blackout source identifier, a blackout channel identifier, ablackout network address, and a blackout controller identifier.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the plurality of video assets are selectedfrom the group consisting of a live broadcast program, a video-on-demand(VOD) asset, a pay-per-view (PPV) asset, a digital video recorder (DVR)asset, a Webcast, a preview, an advertisement, an interactive game, andan interactive application.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein receivingthe screen data comprises receiving the screen data in chunks, whereineach chunk is associated with a different video asset.
 6. The method ofclaim 1 wherein masking the video assets that are blacked out comprisesmasking the video assets with an overlay.
 7. The method of claim 1further comprising: searching for video assets similar to the maskedfirst video asset in response to a user selection of an option in theoptions overlay.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the video assetssimilar to the masked first video asset comprise video assets that arenot blacked out on the user equipment.
 9. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: generating for display the video of the alternative contentfor the user to watch.
 10. The method of claim 1 further comprisingredefining the screen data associated with the blacked out video assets.11. The method of claim 10 wherein the screen data defines actions inresponse to a user selection of at least one of the plurality of videoassets.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the video mosaic screen isgenerated remotely from the user equipment.
 13. The method of claim 1,wherein masking the video assets comprises generating for displaysummary information for the video assets.
 14. The method of claim 1,wherein the options overlay comprises a user interface to purchase eventtickets.
 15. An apparatus for providing enhanced blackout support in avideo mosaic screen presented on user equipment, the apparatuscomprising: memory to receive screen data; and control circuitry togenerate for display the video mosaic screen, the control circuitryconfigured to: receive a user request for the video mosaic screencomprising a plurality of video assets; receive screen data whichdefines blackout information for at least one of the plurality of videoassets; determine, based at least in part on the blackout information,whether any of the plurality of video assets are blacked out; generatefor display the video mosaic screen, wherein the generating comprisesmasking video assets, of the plurality of video assets, that are blackedout with one or more of icons, text, non-blank videos, andadvertisements; receive, from the video mosaic screen, a user selectionof a masked first video asset; generate for display an options overlayfor the selected masked first video asset in response to the userselection, wherein the overlay is displayed simultaneously with at leasta second video asset in the video mosaic screen; in response to a userselection of a first option in the options overlay, generating fordisplay information relating to the selected masked first video asset;and in response to a user selection of a second option in the optionsoverlay, substitute video of the alternative content in the video mosaicscreen for the selected masked first video asset.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 15 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to displayvideo assets that are not blacked out in the video mosaic screen. 17.The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the blackout information comprises atleast one of a blackout source identifier, a blackout channelidentifier, a blackout network address, and a blackout controlleridentifier.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the plurality of videoassets are selected from the group consisting of a live broadcastprogram, a video-on-demand (VOD) asset, a pay-per-view (PPV) asset, adigital video recorder (DVR) asset, a Webcast, a preview, anadvertisement, an interactive game, and an interactive application. 19.The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the control circuitry is furtherconfigured to receive the screen data in chunks, wherein each chunk isassociated with a different video asset.
 20. The apparatus of claim 15wherein the control circuitry is configured to mask the video assetsthat are blacked out with an overlay.
 21. The apparatus of claim 15wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: search for videoassets similar to the masked first video asset in response to a userselection of an option in the options overlay.
 22. The apparatus ofclaim 21 wherein the video assets similar to the masked first videoasset comprise video assets that are not blacked out on the userequipment.
 23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the control circuitryis further configured to: generate for display the video of thealternative content for the user to view.
 24. The apparatus of claim 15wherein the control circuitry is further configured to redefine thescreen data associated with the video assets that are blacked out. 25.The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the screen data defines actions inresponse to a user selection of at least one of the plurality of videoassets.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the video mosaic screen isgenerated remotely from the user equipment.
 27. The apparatus of claim15, wherein masking the video assets comprises generating for displaysummary information for the video assets.
 28. The apparatus of claim 15,wherein the options overlay comprises a user interface to purchase eventtickets.